"She's Dead...! Wrapped in Plastic."

Take one step into the town of Twin Peaks and you're in for a journey into the surreal where everything is more than what it seems.

• Wrapped in plastic, the nude body of Laura Palmer, the high school homecoming queen, emerges from beneath the surface of a nearby lake. Her sensational murder sends shock waves through Twin Peaks, stripping away the veneer of respectable gentility to expose seething undercurrents of illicit passion, greed, jealousy and intrigue in a population of unusual characters.

But Laura's murder isn't the only crime committed in this quiet town of secrets. 

• When another girl is found, viciously tortured but still alive, FBI agent Dale Cooper arrives in Twin Peaks to conduct an investigation. Young and sardonic, Agent Cooper has an almost prescient understanding of human motives and his own quirky but very methodical approach to doing business. He is also keeping whatever information he has about the crimes to himself. Cooper forms an immediate rapport with Sheriff Harry S. Truman, who has grown up in the community. Harry is not much of a talker, but he knows more about the people in that town than they probably know about themselves. Their search for the murderer leads to one shattering discovery: No one is quite what they appear to be and almost everyone has something to hide. Cooper and Truman's probe into Laura's death uncovers many busy secrets in Twin Peaks.
• Was Laura leading a sordid double existence?
• Did she find out that her erstwhile boyfriend, Bobbie Briggs, was having an affair with a married woman?
• Why would well-respected businessmen scheme to take over the valuable Packard Sawmill property?
•  Why is Catherine Martell so bitterly jealous of her brother's widow, the beautiful and imperious mill owner, Jocelyn Packard?

Each revelation lays bare whole other worlds, as we delve deeper and deeper into the characters' fantasies, loves and obsessions. Starring are Kyle MacLachlan ("Dune," "Blue Velvet") as FBI agent Dale Cooper, Michael Ontkean ("Maid to Order," "Slap Shot") as Sheriff Harry S. Truman, Piper Laurie ("Carrie," "Children of a Lesser God") as Catherine Martell, Joan Chen ("The Last Emperor") as Jocelyn Packard, Madchen Amick as Shelly Johnson, Dana Ashbrook as Bobby Briggs, Richard Beymer as Benjamin Horne, Lara Flynn Boyle as Donna Hayward, Sherilyn Fenn as Audrey Horne, Warren Frost as Dr. William Hayward, Peggy Lipton as Norma Jennings, James Marshall as James Hurley, Everett McGill as Ed Hurley, Jack Nance as Pete Martell, Kimmy Robertson as Lucy Moran and Ray Wise as Leland Palmer. Also starring are Russ Tamblyn as Dr. Lawrence Jacoby, Eric Da Re as Leo Johnson, Harry Goaz as Deputy Andy Brennan, Michael Horse as Tommy "The Hawk" Hill and Sheryl Lee as Laura Palmer/Madeleine Ferguson. Executive producers, creators and writers are Mark Frost and David Lynch. Musical score by Angelo Badalamenti with the vocal stylings of Julee Cruise.  Gregg Fienberg is supervising producer, Harley Peyton is producer, Robert D. Simon is co-producer and Phillip Neel is associate producer. The dramatic series is filmed in locations in Washington and Southern California."Twin Peaks" is from Lynch/Frost Productions, Inc., in association with Propaganda Films in association with Worldvision Enterprises, Inc.

Reoccuring Images & Entities in Twin Peaks

"A town like this is like a river. Lot's of hidden currents and eddies, conceiling their own secrets...  I haven't even broken the surface yet."
- Special Agent Dale Cooper, F.B.I.  

Episode Guide: Season One  

Traces to Nowhere (episode 1x01) originally aired on April 12, 1990. The episode is written by Mark Frost and David Lynch and directed by Duwayne Dunham. FBI Agent Dale Cooper and Sheriff Harry Truman discover more about the troubled secret life of the murdered Laura Palmer; Big Ed Hurley reveals that he was drugged at the Roadhouse; a frightened James Hurley, vengeful Bobby Briggs and Mike Nelson are released from jail; Catherine Martell lays bare her plot to take control of the Packard sawmill. 

Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer (episode 1x02) originally aired on April 19, 1990. The episode is written by Mark Frost and David Lynch and directed by David Lynch. FBI Agent Dale Cooper demonstrates an unusual deductive technique for the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department; Benjamin Horne and his brother, Jerry, take a trip to One-Eyed Jacks; Donna Hayward and James Hurley pledge their love; Leo Johnson holds Bobby Briggs at gunpoint; Cooper has a strange dream.

Rest in Pain (episode 1x03) originally aired on April 26, 1990. The episode is written by Harley Peyton and directed by Tina Rathborne. The townsfolk of Twin Peaks gather for Laura Palmer's funeral; Cooper interprets his dream about the killer; Truman reveals to Cooper the secret of the Bookhouse Boys.

The One-Armed Man (episode 1x04) originally aired on May 3, 1990. The episode is written by Robert Engels and directed by Tim Hunter. Cooper and Truman track down the one-armed man and some strange new evidence in Laura Palmer's murder; Norma Jennings attends a parole board hearing for her husband; Audrey Horne decides to begin her own investigation.

Cooper's Dreams (episode 1x05) originally aired on May 10, 1990. Cooper and Truman have tea with the Log Lady and discover a macabre crime scene in the woods; Audrey Horne takes a job at her father's department store; Hank Jennings returns from prison to the Double R Diner; James Hurley and Donna Hayward take Madeleine Ferguson into their confidence.

Realization Time (episode 1x06) originally aired on May 17, 1990. The episode is written by Harley Peyton, and directed by Caleb Deschanel. Agent Cooper and Big Ed pay a special visit to One-Eyed Jacks, while Audrey Horne goes undercover as a hostess there; Josie Packard shares her suspicions with Truman about Catherine Martell's intentions; Dr. Jacoby receives a phone call from the dead Laura Palmer.

The Last Evening (episode 1x07) originally aired on May 23, 1990. The episode is written by Mark Frost and directed by Mark Frost. Cooper and Truman's investigation builds to a terrifying conclusion; Dr. Jacoby heads for his rendezvous with "Laura Palmer"--and its bizarre consequences; Catherine Martell and Shelly Johnson are hopelessly trapped; Hank Jennings' evil influence spreads, engulfing Josie Packard.

Episode Guide: Season Two

May The Giant Be With You (episode 2x01) originally aired on September 30, 1990. The episode is written by Mark Frost and David Lynch and directed by David Lynch. This episode is a two hour "movie". A shot and bleeding Agent Cooper has visions of a giant; Audrey is imprisoned at the casino/bordello One-Eyed Jacks; Donna receives a strange message; Josie and Catherine are missing; a stirring Ronette relives Laura's murder.

Coma (episode 2x02) originally aired on October 6, 1990. The episode is written by Harley Peyton and directed by David Lynch. Cooper learns his ex-partner, Windom Earle, has escaped from a mental asylum; Major Briggs gives Cooper a message; Donna meets an eerie old woman and her grandson; Ben orders Leland killed; Deputy Andy thinks he's sterile; Audrey learns more about Laura, but is uncovered by a vengeful Blackie.

The Man Behind Glass (episode 2x03) originally aired on October 13, 1990. The episode was written by Robert Engels and directed by Lesli Linka Glatter. Donna finds a diary of Laura's at Harold Smith's house; Blackie holds Audrey hostage, and plots with Jean Renault; James and Madeleine become close, to Donna's dismay; Lucy lunches with Dick Tremayne; Dr. Jacoby undergoes hypnosis, leading to an arrest. Laura's Secret Diary (episode 2x04) originally aired on October 20, 1990. The episode was written by Jerry Stahl, Mark Frost, Harley Peyton and Robert Engels, and directed by Todd Holland. Cooper is stymied by an unusual request from Ben Horne to save Audrey's life; Josie introduces her "cousin" Jonathan from Hong Kong; Renault deals with Battis.

The Orchid's Curse (episode 2x05) originally aired on October 27, 1990. The episode is written by Barry Pullman and directed by Graeme Clifford. Cooper and Truman stage a raid on One-Eyed Jacks; Leland attends his court hearing; Donna and Madeleine plot to steal Laura's secret diary from Harold Smith; Ben gets a business proposition.

Demons (episode 2x06) originally aired on November 3, 1990. The episode was written by Harley Peyton and Robert Engels and directed by Lesli Linka Glatter. Donna and Madeleine fear an enraged Harold Smith; Shelly and Bobby, hold a "welcome home" party for the comatose Leo; Cooper's boss, Gordon Cole, visits to warn Cooper of threats; Josie strikes a deal with Ben and leaves with Jonathan; the one-armed man reveals some information about "Bob".

Lonely Souls (episode 2x07) originally aired on November 10, 1990. The episode was written by Mark Frost and directed by David Lynch. Ben is brought in for questioning after Audrey confronts him about One-Eyed Jacks and passes the information to Cooper; Andy ponders the meaning of Harold Smith's note; having misjudged the money due them, Shelly and Bobby are cash-strapped; Bobby finds a microcassette of Leo's; Madeleine prepares to go home; Pete learns Tojamura's plans.

Drive with a Dead Girl (episode 2x08) originally aired on November 17, 1990. The episode was written by Scott Frost and directed by Caleb Deschanel. Norma's visiting mother introduces her new husband, unaware of his connections to Hank; Lucy returns, with her sister; Bobby decides to blackmail Ben, who also gets a tape-recorded ultimatum; the one-armed man leads to a grisly discovery.

Arbitrary Law (episode 2x09) originally aired on December 1, 1990. The episode was written by Mark Frost, Harley Peyton and Robert Engels, and directed by Tim Hunter. From a piece of Laura's secret diary, Cooper discovers he and Laura shared the same dream, with her message in it leading him to her killer; Catherine tricks Ben into signing away the mill; Lucy, Andy and Tremayne confront each other over her pregnancy.

Dispute Between Brothers (episode 2x10) originally aired on December 8, 1990. The episode was written by Tricia Brock and directed by Tina Rathborne. As Cooper says his goodbyes, an FBI agent arrives to suspend him and investigate the unauthorized One-Eyed Jacks affair; the publisher of the Twin Peaks Gazette argues with his brother, the Mayor; Renault recruits Hank and Ernie to frame Cooper; Nadine, deluded that she's a teenager, enrolls in high school; Major Briggs, fishing with Cooper, has a strange encounter in the woods.

Masked Ball (episode 2x11) originally aired on December 15, 1990. The episode was written by Barry Pullman and directed by Duwayne Dunham. Cooper is investigated by the FBI and the DEA; Nadine falls for teen Mike Nelson; James gets room and board for helping a beautiful blond; Hank confronts Ben; Tremayne becomes Big Brother to a terror; Catherine forces Josie to become her maid; Andrew Packard turns up alive.

The Black Widow (episode 2x12) originally aired on January 12, 1991. The episode was written by Harley Peyton and Robert Engels, and directed by Caleb Deschanel. Cooper finds cocaine at a deserted house Renault uses; Andy and Tremayne confront concerns of Nicky's past; a mentally decaying Ben has Bobby tail Hank; Dougie Milford dies under unusual circumstances; supernaturally superstrong Nadine joins the wrestling team; Major Briggs returns.

Checkmate (episode 2x13) originally aired on January 19, 1991. The episode was written by Harley Peyton and directed by Todd Holland. Cooper is held hostage by Renault; Andy and Tremayne pry into Nicky's past; Catherine professes her love for Ben; James succumbs to a treacherous Evelyn; Ed and Norma succumb to each other; Hank confronts Big Ed; Cooper's ex-partner Windom Earle makes a move. Double Play (episode 2x14) originally aired on February 2, 1991. The episode was written by Scott Frost and directed by Uli Edel. Cooper confides to Truman his past experiences with Windom Earle; Earle meanwhile takes in Leo; Audrey strikes a business deal with Bobby; James realizes he has been set up; Josie's dangerous old lover, Thomas Eckhardt, appears.

Slaves and Masters (episode 2x15) originally aired on February 9, 1991. The episode was written by Harley Peyton and Robert Engels and directed by Diane Keaton. Cooper finds some evidence about who shot him, and gets help from the town's resident chess master in matching wits with Windom Earle in the deadly chess game; Donna makes a desperate plea to save James; Nadine surprises Ed and Norma; Catherine uses Josie to lure Eckhardt.

The Condemned Woman (episode 2x16) originally aired on February 16, 1991. The episode was written by Tricia Block and directed by Lesli Linka Glatter. Ed proposes to Norma; James and Donna break up; Audrey meets a handsome, wealthy admirer from her past; Earle mails a puzzle to Audrey, Shelly and Donna; Josie makes a confession, after a dreaded encounter with Thomas Eckhardt; Cooper has another vision.

Wounds and Scars (episode 2x17) originally aired on March 28, 1991. The episode was written by Barry Pullman and directed by James Foley. Cooper is attracted to Norma's sister, Annie, returning to the world from a convent; Truman withdraws from everyone; Donna receives a macabre family visitor; Audrey falls for Wheeler; Nadine and her teenage beau Mike Nelson check into the Great Northern Hotel; Ben hosts an environmental benefit.

On the Wings of Love (episode 2x18) originally aired on April 4, 1991. The episode was written by Harley Peyton and Robert Engels, and directed by Duwayne Dunham. Cooper and the Sheriff's Department go spelunking in Owl Cave; Truman awakens in the murderous embrace of a naked woman; Windom Earle insinuates himself into the lives of potential victims; Audrey and Donna see Mrs. Hayward meet with Ben. Variations on Relations (episode 2x19) originally aired on April 11, 1991. The episode was written by Mark Frost and Harley Peyton, and directed by Jonathan Sanger. Cooper and Truman try to decipher the hieroglyph from Owl Cave; plans for the Miss Twin Peaks contest get underway; Tremayne holds a wine tasting at the Great Northern Hotel; Cooper falls for Annie, and Gordon for Shelley; Windom Earle makes his next move.

The Path to the Black Lodge (episode 2x20) originally aired on April 18, 1991. The episode was written by Harley Peyton and Robert Engels, and directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal. Cooper and Truman continue to investigate the mystery of Owl Cave; Windom Earle snares Major Briggs; Cooper romances Annie; Donna makes a discovery on her birth certificate; Wheeler leaves suddenly after receiving urgent news.

Miss Twin Peaks (episode 2x21) originally aired on June 10, 1991, broadcast as a two-hour "movie" with episode 2x22. The episode was written by Barry Pullman and directed by Tim Hunter. Cooper and Truman decipher part of the secret of the Black Lodge; Cooper helps Annie prepare for the Miss Twin Peaks contest; Major Briggs escapes from Earle; Catherine continues her battle with the black box; Lucy chooses the father of her baby; Earle interrupts the contest.

Beyond Life and Death (episode 2x22) originally aired on June 10, 1991, broadcast as a two-hour "movie" with episode 2x21. The episode was written by Mark Frost, Harley Peyton and Robert Engels, and directed by David Lynch. Cooper and Truman figure out the location of the Black Lodge, and rush to save Miss Twin Peaks there; Nadine regains her senses; Donna confronts her parents about Ben; Audrey stages an act of civil disobedience; Cooper enters the Black Lodge.

_{"He can't ask for your soul, but I will take his...!" --Bob}

Not the End but the... beginning?

After the last episode of Twin Peaks aired, in 1992 a feature film of the series prequel was created; Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.  The film concentrates on the week leading up to Laura Palmer’s brutal murder, but begins with a thirty minute prologue set a year earlier, as FBI agents Chet Desmond (Chris Isaak) and Stanley (Kiefer Sutherland) investigate the murder of Teresa Banks. Desmond disappears during the course of the inquiry, and agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is assigned to continue the investigation. One year later in the town of Twin Peaks, Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) is set on a self-destructive road of drugs and sex, and is continually menaced by the terrifying man known only as BOB.

In one particular scene Laura prostitutes herself in a very loud and bawdy bar in Canada; a pivotal scene where most of the dialogue is subtitled and later influenced much of the night club atmosphere in the movie Trainspotting.

The movie was not as big of a smash hit as the series, but both influenced many future television writers and producers to create series that defy the prime time family sitcom genre to entertain audiences hungry for the kind of drama that lingers in your mind long after your first viewing.